Introducing our new Chief Executive
Mon 18 Jun 2018Deborah is currently Head Of Creative Direction and Innovation at Historic Royal Palaces, and is a former Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Her role will be to provide inspirational leadership and a strategic vision. She will work with The Marlowe team in order to maintain and cultivate a vibrant, creative and financially stable organisation, with the ability to develop and grow artistically, commercially and sustainably.
In the immediate future, Deborah will oversee The Marlowe’s autumn season, which includes the opening of the innovative live museum and performance space, The Marlowe Kit and the Armistice Centenary project Return Of The Unknown at Dover Marine Station. Autumn programming highlights include Calendar Girls: The Musical, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Philharmonia Orchestra with Scheherazade and Glyndebourne productions of Verdi’s La Traviata and Massenet’s Cendrillon at The Marlowe Theatre, and Hannah And Hanna in Dreamland, Abandoman and Felicity Ward in The Marlowe Studio.
Prior to her post at Historical Royal Palaces, Deborah was Associate Director at The Royal Shakespeare Company, a role that included the directorship of the World Shakespeare Festival for London 2012. She was also Director of the RSC Complete Works Festival 2006/7.
Her other posts have included Director of Bath Shakespeare Festival and Artistic Director of Chester Gateway Theatre. Deborah was named one of the UK’s 10 most influential creatives in the Hospital Club’s H-100 Awards 2015.
She says: “I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive of The Marlowe at this exciting moment in its evolution. The Marlowe has been a real success story in recent years and I look forward very much to working with the trustees, partners and the theatre team on an ambitious future.
“Together we will continue to serve the audiences and communities of Canterbury and east Kent, nurture local talent and extend The Marlowe’s influence as a cultural powerhouse for the region.
“I’ve had an amazing five years setting up and leading the team responsible for creating extraordinary experiences for audiences at the palaces cared for by Historic Royal Palaces – from the 2014 Poppies installation at the Tower, through a range of award-winning theatre, dance, music and digital commissions and collaborations. I leave behind an extremely talented team of creative producers and I’m excited to see what they do next.
“When I first visited Canterbury I was struck by the vibrancy of the arts scene at every scale; there was a top-flight musical at The Marlowe Theatre, a recital in the cathedral and local bands and poets performing in a pub. I felt really at home. It’s a beautiful city and a privilege to be contributing to its cultural life.”
Marlowe Trust Chairman Jonathan Church says: “Deborah will be joining the theatre at an exciting time. Her track record of executive and artistic leadership in a number of high-profile arts organisations, combined with her belief in regional theatre and its power to connect with local audiences, will enable us to build on the extraordinary work of the current team.
“Her appointment, alongside the skill and strength of the senior management team, gives us the ability and confidence to capitalise on the incredible opportunity given to us by Canterbury City Council to take The Marlowe into a new phase of its life.”
Canterbury City Council Director of Commissioned Services David Ford added: “We have been very happy to work with the new Trustees on such an important appointment for The Marlowe. We are really looking forward to working with Deborah and the brilliant team she will inherit on what will be an exciting future for the theatre.”